Effect of Hyaluronic Acid-Containing Transfer Media (EmbryoGlue®) on the Live Birth Rate in Frozen Thawed Embryo Transfer Cycles.

This retrospective cohort study examines the impact of EmbryoGlue® - a culture medium comprising high-concentration hyaluronan and low-concentration recombinant human albumin (rHA) - on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in 1,298 cycles across 13 centers. The study focused on live birth rates, clinical pregnancy, and miscarriage rates between a standard treatment arm and an EmbryoGlue® arm in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Propensity score matching ensured comparable baseline variables. Findings showed higher live birth rates (60.6% vs. 47.5%) and clinical pregnancies (69.5% vs. 57.6%) in the EmbryoGlue® group, correlating with factors like patient age and blastocyst transfer. Specifically, EmbryoGlue® showed a significant association with higher live birth rates (OR 1.593; CI 1.170-2.168; P = 0.003). These findings underscore the impact of personalized approaches and highlight EmbryoGlue®'s potential in improving successful embryo implantation, thus enhancing pregnancy rates in ART procedures. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified EmbryoGlue®, female age, and blastocyst transfer as predictors of live birth. EmbryoGlue® exhibited significance in improving clinical outcomes, mirroring previous studies' findings. Limitations in the study's design warrant further prospective research for validation. In conclusion, EmbryoGlue® appears promising for enhancing live birth rates in FET cycles, presenting a potential advancement in ART protocols.

Sperm Chromatin Immaturity Observed in Short Abstinence Ejaculates Affects DNA Integrity and Longevity In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: The influence of ejaculatory abstinence (EA) on semen parameters and subsequent reproductive outcome is still debatable; hence understanding the impact of EA on sperm structural and functional integrity may provide a valuable information on predicting successful clinical outcome. OBJECTIVE: To understand the influence of EA on sperm chromatin maturity, integrity, longevity and global methylation status. METHODS: This experimental prospective study included 76 ejaculates from 19 healthy volunteers who provided ejaculates after observing 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of abstinence. Sperm chromatin maturity, DNA integrity and global methylation status were assessed in the neat ejaculate. Sperm motility, DNA integrity and longevity were assessed in the processed fraction of the fresh and frozen-thawed ejaculates to determine their association with the length of EA. RESULTS: Spermatozoa from 1 day ejaculatory abstinence (EA-1) displayed significantly higher level of sperm chromatin immaturity in comparison to EA-3 (P < 0.05) and EA-5 (P < 0.01) whereas; the number of 5-methyl cytosine immunostained spermatozoa did not vary significantly across groups. On the other hand, in vitro incubation of processed ejaculate from EA-1 resulted in approximately 20 and 40 fold increase in the DNA fragmented spermatozoa at the end of 6 and 24h respectively (P < 0.01-0.001). CONCLUSION: Use of short-term EA for therapeutic fertilization would be a clinically valuable strategy to improve the DNA quality. However, use of such spermatozoa after prolonged incubation in vitro should be avoided as it can carry a substantial risk of transmitting DNA fragmentation to the oocytes.

Genetic Instability in Lymphocytes is Associated With Blood Plasma Antioxidant Levels in Health Care Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.

Earlier reports have suggested that exposure to radiation at workplace may induce cytogenetic abnormalities. However, the association between plasma antioxidants and the cytogenetic abnormalities in these patients has not been elucidated till now. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the relationship between the cytogenetic abnormalities, plasma antioxidant system, and the radiation exposure levels in men who were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. The study included 134 male volunteers, among whom 83 were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. Incidence of micronuclei and chromosomal aberration was assessed in lymphocytes. Total and reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation were assessed in the plasma. The micronuclei frequency and chromosomal aberrations were significantly higher in the exposed group in comparison to the nonexposed group (P < 0.01-0.0001). Similarly, GSH, TAC, and SOD in the blood plasma were significantly higher in the exposed group than the nonexposed group (P < 0.01-0.0001). However, the level of malondialdehyde, which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation, did not differ significantly between both the groups. Importantly, radiation absorbed dose exhibited a positive correlation with the incidence of micronuclei in blood lymphocytes but not with chromosomal aberrations. This study shows that the susceptibility of peripheral blood lymphocytes to chromosomal damage is associated with plasma antioxidant levels. Furthermore, increased levels of blood plasma GSH, TAC, and SOD in occupationally exposed individuals could be an adaptive measure in response to oxidative stress to protect somatic cell genetic integrity.

Association between sperm DNA integrity and seminal plasma antioxidant levels in health workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation.

There is a paucity of data regarding the association between occupational radiation exposure and risk to human fertility. Recently, we provided the first evidence on altered sperm functional characteristics, DNA damage and hypermethylation in radiation health workers. However, there is no report elucidating the association between seminal plasma antioxidants and sperm chromatin integrity in occupationally exposed subjects. Here, we assessed the seminal plasma antioxidants and lipid peroxidation level in 83 men who were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and then correlated with the sperm chromatin integrity. Flow cytometry based sperm chromatin integrity assay revealed a significant decline in αt value in the exposed group in comparison to the non-exposed group (P<0.0001). Similarly, both total and reduced glutathione levels and total antioxidant capacity in the seminal plasma were significantly higher in exposed group than the non-exposed group (P<0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001, respectively). However, superoxide dismutase level and malondialdehyde level, which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation in the seminal plasma, did not differ significantly between two groups. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and GSH level exhibited a positive correlation with sperm DNA integrity in exposed subjects. To conclude, this study distinctly shows that altered sperm chromatin integrity in radiation health workers is associated with increase in seminal plasma antioxidant level. Further, the increased seminal plasma GSH and TAC could be an adaptive measure to tackle the oxidative stress to protect genetic and functional sperm deformities in radiation health workers.

Nuclear DNA fragmentation negatively affects zona binding competence of Y bearing mouse spermatozoa.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of sperm DNA integrity on the zona binding ability of mouse spermatozoa in relation to their sex chromosomal constitution. METHOD(S): In this prospective experimental study, the sperm DNA fragmentation was induced by exposing testicular area of Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus) to different doses of γ-radiation (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 Gy). Sperm DNA fragmentation was quantified by single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). In vitro sperm zona binding assay was performed and the numbers of zona bound X and Y bearing spermatozoa were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULT(S): The assessment of zona pellucida bound X and Y-bearing spermatozoa using fluorescence in situ hybridization has revealed a unique binding pattern. The number of zona bound Y-spermatozoa declined significantly (P < 0.01 to 0.0001) with increase in the DNA damage. The skewed binding pattern of X and Y-bearing sperm was strongly correlated with the extent of sperm DNA damage. CONCLUSION(S): The zona pellucida may have a role in preventing DNA damaged mouse sperm binding especially towards Y-bearing sperm. However, the exact mechanism behind this observation needs to be elucidated further.

Semen abnormalities, sperm DNA damage and global hypermethylation in health workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation.

BACKGROUND: Cytogenetic studies have demonstrated that low levels of chronic radiation exposure can potentially increase the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and aneuploidy in somatic cells. Epidemiological studies have shown that health workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation bear an increased risk of hematological malignancies. OBJECTIVES: To find the influence of occupational radiation exposure on semen characteristics, including genetic and epigenetic integrity of spermatozoa in a chronically exposed population. METHODS: This cross sectional study included 134 male volunteers of which 83 were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and 51 were non-exposed control subjects. Semen characteristics, sperm DNA fragmentation, aneuploidy and incidence of global hypermethylation in the spermatozoa were determined and compared between the non-exposed and the exposed group. RESULTS: Direct comparison of the semen characteristics between the non-exposed and the exposed population revealed significant differences in motility characteristics, viability, and morphological abnormalities (P<0.05-0.0001). Although, the level of sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in the exposed group as compared to the non-exposed group (P<0.05-0.0001), the incidence of sperm aneuploidy was not statistically different between the two groups. However, a significant number of hypermethylated spermatozoa were observed in the exposed group in comparison to non-exposed group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We provide the first evidence on the detrimental effects of occupational radiation exposure on functional, genetic and epigenetic integrity of sperm in health workers. However, further studies are required to confirm the potential detrimental effects of ionizing radiation in these subjects.

The extent of paternal sperm DNA damage influences early post-natal survival of first generation mouse offspring.

OBJECTIVES: To study the post-natal characteristics and the survival of offspring derived from DNA damaged sperm. STUDY DESIGN: This experimental prospective study was conducted on Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus). Sperm DNA damage was induced by different doses of γ-irradiation in male mice who were then mated with healthy female mice. The post-natal characteristics including the survival of first generation offspring were studied and then correlated with the amount of paternal sperm DNA damage. RESULTS: A significant reduction of survival in the early post-natal period was observed in the first generation offspring derived from the DNA damaged sperm, and a strong association was observed between the extent of sperm DNA damage and the survival of the offspring. CONCLUSION: The DNA damage load in sperm at the time of fertilization influences early post-natal survival of the mouse offspring.